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Sky News AU
28-04-2025
- Health
- Sky News AU
Westfield Bondi Junction inquest: Joel Cauchi bookmarked pages about serial killers and massacres in the days before the attack
Joel Cauchi had bookmarked pages about serial killers and mass killings in the days before the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack, an inquest has heard. Cauchi, 40, killed six people and injured 10 others in a mass stabbing at the Sydney shopping centre on April 13, 2024. The inquest will examine Mr Cauchi's schizophrenia diagnosis and why he remained unmedicated and unsupervised for five years before the attack. It will also investigate gaps in Queensland's mental health system that allowed him to "fall through the cracks". Counsel Assisting the Coroner, Dr Peggy Dwyer, delivered a two-hour opening statement on the first day of the inquest, outlining evidence that Cauchi had become preoccupied with weapons, violence, and mass murder. She said the browsing history that suggested evidence of planning before the attack started in late 2022. Cauchi's web history included multiple mass shooting events, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Dr Dwyer said Cauchi had also purchased multiple KA-BAR knives - one of which was used on the day of the attack. "Apart from Mr Cauchi's dark thoughts, there is no direct evidence indicating any motive in relation to what happened," Dr Dwyer said. The inquest heard about a prior incident in January 2023, when police were called to the family home after Cauchi's father confiscated several knives similar to the one used in the April attack. "The court will explore whether that was a missed opportunity for intervention by police, which may have led to Mr Cauchi being re-engaged with the mental health system," Dr Dwyer said. Cauchi was also using cannabis, which may have worsened his condition. Dr Dwyer said the drug likely "exacerbated" his symptoms. The court heard disturbing details about the victims who died: Dawn Singleton, Jade Young, Yixuan Cheng, Ashlee Good, Pikria Darchia, and Faraz Tahir. The inquest also acknowledged the heroic actions of civilians, first responders, and NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who fatally shot Cauchi less than six minutes after the rampage began. "Your Honour, there is no question with respect to the propriety of her actions. Her professionalism on 13 April 2024 is clearly beyond doubt," Dr Dwyer said. Of nearly 250 civilian witness statements submitted, only two civilians are expected to give oral evidence - Damien Guerot and Silas Desperaux, the "bollard men" who helped guide Inspector Scott to the attacker. Inspector Scott and the two French construction workers will give evidence on Tuesday. The five-week inquest will also hear security, emergency response, and psychiatry experts in the weeks ahead.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Why Are Certain Words and Phrases Banned at Bryan Kohberger's Trial?
Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, appeared in court Wednesday, April 9, for a hearing on what evidence could be admitted at his upcoming trial. During the hearing, Judge Steven Hippler ruled at the defense's request that potentially inflammatory words including "psychopath," "sociopath," and "murderer" be banned during the trial, according to ABC News and the Associated Press. However, he did leave open the possibility of using the word "murderer" during closing arguments. The defense also attempted to restrict the phrases "touch DNA" and "contact DNA," claiming that the jury may be misled, but Hippler denied those requests, saying that doing so would amount to policing experts, ABC News reports. Kohberger is accused of killing Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20. The four were brutally stabbed to death in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, at an off-campus residence in Moscow, near the University of Idaho. Two other female roommates were home during the attack but were not harmed. Related: Idaho Murders Timeline: Everything to Know About the Case The 30-year-old, who was arrested in December 2022, was allegedly linked to the crime scene by DNA recovered from a knife sheath and cell phone pings, per a probable cause affidavit previously obtained by PEOPLE. Prosecutors are hoping to include DNA evidence from the sheath at trial, something Kohberger's attorneys have sought to block. Prosecutors have argued that Kohberger bought a KA-BAR knife — believed by authorities to be the missing murder weapon — a sheath and a sharpener on Amazon months prior to the slayings, ABC News reports. The defense claimed that purchase could be linked back to anyone with access to his account. Hippler said during Wednesday's hearing that he did not believe Kohberger's "click data" should be excluded as evidence, per CBS News. Also discussed during Wednesday's hearing was the defense's request that Kohberger's family attend the trial, even though prosecutors listed them as potential witnesses, according to the AP. Hippler said he would issue a ruling at a later time. Related: Bryan Kohberger Defense Attorney Argues Reason for His 'Piercing Stare' — and Why Jury May Hold That Against Him 'I can only imagine that the family of Mr. Kohberger is devastated by these things. It's nothing that they did, and their ability to be here to see the trial is important,' Hippler said, per the AP. Kohberger's defense team is also trying to keep the death penalty off the table by possibly arguing that he is on the autism spectrum. The defense was also hoping to block testimony from an alleged eyewitness whom prosecutors believe would identify Kohberger as the killer due to his "bushy" eyebrows. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In a motion laying out his alibi, Kohberger's lawyer, Anne Taylor, said the suspect was out driving by himself on the night of the murders but that he did not kill the four victims. Kohberger's trial is expected to begin on Aug. 11 in Ada County, Idaho. Kohberger has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of burglary. A judge entered a not guilty plea on Kohberger's behalf following his indictment in May 2023. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Idaho college killings: Bryan Kohberger in court for high-stakes hearing on what evidence will be allowed at trial
University of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger is back in court on Wednesday for a high-stakes hearing to decide what evidence will be allowed at his trial, which is set to begin in August. The judge is expected to hear arguments over what evidence should be presented to the jury, including Kohberger's Amazon search history, witness descriptions and testimony about DNA. Kohberger is accused of fatally stabbing Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle at the girls' off-campus house in Moscow in the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022. Chapin, Kernodle's boyfriend, was sleeping over at the time. MORE: 'Doomsday mom' Lori Daybell delivers opening statement in her latest murder trial Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University at the time of the murders, was arrested in December 2022. He's charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, and a not guilty plea has been entered on his behalf. Among the evidence prosecutors want to include at trial is that Kohberger's DNA was allegedly found on a knife sheath at the murder scene. The murder weapon was never recovered, but prosecutors allege Kohberger bought a KA-BAR knife with a sheath and a sharpener on Amazon. The defense argued anyone in the family could have made that purchase on Amazon, but prosecutors said they have a witness who will testify it was Bryan Kohberger. MORE: Idaho college killings: Dramatic 911 call revealed The prosecution also plans on critical testimony from the two roommates who survived the murders, including one roommate who said in the middle of the night she saw a man with "bushy eyebrows" walking past her in the house. The defense wants that description banned during trial. The defense argues the roommate's account lacks credibility, pointing to her phone records showing she was on social media and checking job websites the morning after the murders -- hours before 911 was called. "When it comes to evidentiary hearings, the prosecution's goal is trying to admit as much damning evidence as possible," ABC News legal contributor Brian Buckmire said, while the defense tries "to limit how much evidence comes in that is detrimental to their case." The defense is also pushing for the death penalty to be taken off the table if Kohberger is convicted, citing what they say is Kohberger's autism spectrum disorder. Idaho college killings: Bryan Kohberger in court for high-stakes hearing on what evidence will be allowed at trial originally appeared on
